MANCHESTER, NH.- Rock & Roll plays center stage at The Currier Museum of Art as Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography opened the evening of Oct. 6. Drawn from the largest private collection of photographs of rock musicians in the United States, the exhibition was organized by the Portland Museum of Art, Maine. More than 150 Rock & Roll photosmany rarely seen by the publicwill be on display through January 15, 2012.

This exhibition provides a portal into the musical and cultural history of Rock & Roll, from its development in the 1950s to its influence on the sounds and styles of future generations. Studio portraits and candid outtakes of famous Rock & Roll stars range from Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles to Madonna, Courtney Love and Bob Marley.

The relationship between Rock & Roll and photography is intimate and profound. Rock musicians careers are predicated on a cult of personalitythe ability to strike a pose and live the lifejust as much as their command of an instrument. Photographers have flocked to rock musicians for the fleeting opportunity to capture celebrity both on and off stage. Backstage Pass features images taken of famous musicians including The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin, The Who, Patti Smith, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Grace Jones, U2, Moby, and Kurt Cobain, among many others. These classic images were captured by more than 50 photographers including Lee Friedlander, Kate Simon, Laura Levine, Baron Wolman, Bob Gruen, Jim Marshall and Lynn Goldsmith.

The presentation of this special exhibition at the Currier is funded by TD Charitable Foundation with additional support from RiverStone Resources, LLC , E & R Laundry and Dry Cleaners and the Botnick Family Foundation, with media sponsorship from Rock 101 and the Morning Buzz.